In a recent development, a 40-year-old man identified as Alonso Guerrero Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Garcia had pleaded guilty on November 3, 2023, and U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered him to serve 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. During the sentencing hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Garcia had used the firearm to forcibly abduct two individuals at gunpoint before being apprehended.
The incident leading to Garcia's arrest occurred on June 3, 2023, when authorities conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling the wrong way down a one-way street at a high rate of speed. Garcia, a known member of the Mexican Mafia gang, was in the rear seat of the vehicle. A search revealed a Springfield Armory Champion 9mm pistol with gold grips and Aztec markings under the driver’s seat, along with photographs of Garcia holding the distinctive firearm.
Further investigation disclosed that Garcia had a previous conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, as well as convictions for aggravated assault and manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.
Pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, Garcia will remain in custody. The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from the Corpus Christi Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Liesel Roscher.
This case is part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which aims to reduce violent crime. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland had announced the revitalization of PSN in May 2021, focusing on evidence-based and community-oriented approaches to address violent crime, including gun violence. The program is guided by principles such as fostering trust in communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results of efforts to reduce violent crime. The ultimate goal is to enhance community safety.
